Are you looking forward to the 18th edition of CAMERA JAPAN Festival in Rotterdam (20 – 24 September) and Amsterdam (28 September – 1 October)? More than 50 films will be shown during the 2023 edition of the festival. It is also possible to attend workshops, interventions, and exhibitions, and in Rotterdam the market with Japanese snacks and goodies will return once again.
CAMERA JAPAN will be held in Rotterdam at LantarenVenster, which has been a long-term venue for the film festival, and in Amsterdam, CAMERA JAPAN will take place at LAB111 for the fourth time.
As we do every year, we highlight some films that we think: these films should not be left unseen during the 2023 edition of CAMERA JAPAN Festival! They are films that we think are interesting, but it is not a top 5. The final choice of which film you have to see still remains with you. We love to hear which film(s) you will be watching during the upcoming edition of CAMERA JAPAN.
The Dry Spell (2022)
European Premiere and will officially open the 2023 edition of CAMERA JAPAN. In the scorching summer heat and relentless drought, city waterworks employee Iwakiri and his co-worker Kida embark on the grim task to turn off the water of the households who are behind on their water bills. Iwakiri seems no longer to enjoy life after losing contact with his wife and child. However, meeting with the fatherless Keiko and Kumiko, whose mother is often absent, opens a new chapter in his life.
Film is directed by Masaya Takahashi.
Screenings: Thursday 21 September – 19:00 (Rotterdam), Sunday 24 September – 12.30 (Rotterdam), Thursday 28 September – 19.30 (Amsterdam) | Tickets
Japanese Title: 渇水 | Kassui
Genre: Drama
Life of Mariko in Kabukicho (2023)
Dutch Premiere. Mariko, a 28-year-old who tends bar in Kabukicho, leads a double life running a detective agency. Her clientele at the bar range from her lover to two assassins, a hostess, and an ex-yakuza. Everything takes an unexpected turn when the FBI approaches her with an extraordinary request: track down an actual alien.
Film is directed by Eiji Uchida and Shinzo Katayama.
Screenings: Thursday 21 September – 19:30 (Rotterdam), Friday 22 September – 12.15 (Rotterdam), Friday 29 September – 19.00 (Amsterdam) | Tickets
Japanese Title: 探偵マリコの生涯で一番悲惨な日 | Tantei Mariko no shougai de ichiban hisan na hi
Genres: Drama, Comedy
Bad Lands (2023)
European premiere. Neri and her younger brother Jo navigate life through the art of deception. One night, they happen to score hundreds of millions of yen. Since that time, they are chased by various nefarious people.
This film is directed by Masato Harada and is adapted from the novel 勁草 (Keisou) by Hiroyuki Kurokawa.
Screenings: Thursday 21 September – 12:00 (Rotterdam), Friday 22 September – 21:30 (Rotterdam), Saturday 30 September – 21:30 (Amsterdam) | Tickets
Japanese Title: バッド・ランズ | Baddo ranzu
Genre: Thriller
MAYHEM GIRLs (2022)
European premiere. As the pandemic rages on, life at high school gets a lot crazier for Mizuho when she discovers she has psychokinetic superpowers. Joining forces with three other girls, each endowed with their own unique abilities, they form an unlikely alliance. However, when Yusuke, Mizuho’s former tutor, noticed her supernatural powers, the four went out of control. The four girls learn that while great power may not demand great responsibility, it certainly ensures a whirlwind of enjoyment.
This film is directed by Shinichi Fujita.
Screenings: Friday 22 September – 14:45 (Rotterdam), Sunday 24 September – 22:00 (Rotterdam), Saturday 30 September – 21:45 (Amsterdam) | Tickets
Japanese Title: メイヘムガールズ | Meihemu gāruzu
Genres: Action, Youth, Supernatural
Mountain Woman (2022)
Dutch premiere. Set in the late 18th century, Rin is born into a family of societal outcasts in the rural north of Japan. When her starving father commits a desperate act by stealing rice, it leads to Rin to shoulder the blame and suffer banishment to the revered Mount Hayachine – a place said to be the realm of ascending spirits.
Film is directed by Takeshi Fukunaga.
Screenings: Saturday 23 September – 10:00 (Rotterdam), Sunday 24 September – 17:15 (Rotterdam), Sunday 1 October – 12:30 (Amsterdam) | Tickets
Japanese Title: 山女 | Yama onna
Genres: Drama, Fantasy
Make sure you check out CAMERA JAPAN’s full programme, as it contains even more information about the films, shorts, workshops and more at the 18th edition of the film festival.
